unalienable

adjective

un·​alien·​able ˌən-ˈāl-yə-nə-bəl How to pronounce unalienable (audio)
-ˈā-lē-ə-
: impossible to take away or give up : inalienable
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.United States Declaration of Independence
… it's hard to say whether the partisan noise could influence an election, or whether it's New York simply exercising its unalienable right to be New York.Audra D. S. Burch

Examples of unalienable in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The unalienable rights listed in the Declaration of Independence don’t include life, liberty and soda paid for by someone else. Editorial, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2026 The Constitution’s glitterati, present at the creation, were unanimous in fearing the executive branch would concoct excuses for pointless wars to aggrandize power and crush unalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 23 Mar. 2026 Most Americans are superficially familiar with the Declaration of Independence, especially its opening affirmations that we are all created equal and endowed with unalienable rights. Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026 So much for our unalienable rights of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 30 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unalienable

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1611, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unalienable was circa 1611

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Cite this Entry

“Unalienable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unalienable. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

unalienable

adjective
un·​alien·​able ˌən-ˈāl-yə-nə-bəl How to pronounce unalienable (audio)
-ˈā-lē-ə-nə-

Legal Definition

unalienable

adjective
: not alienable : inalienable
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